😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,108 in Zouk Mikael.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,717 in Zouk Mikael.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,326 in Zouk Mikael.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 27% more expensive than Zouk Mikael, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Zouk Mikael is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$10.64LBP 952.5K
-66.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$59.4LBP 5.3M
-45.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$7.93LBP 709.9K
-38.71%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$3.31LBP 295.9K
-16.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$1.56LBP 139.9K
-15.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.88LBP 79.0K
-20.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$3.41LBP 304.9K
-14.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$4.86LBP 435.0K
-22.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.71LBP 152.6K
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$0.32LBP 28.8K
671.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$1.81LBP 162.1K
-33.70%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$3.23LBP 288.8K
-24.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$5.14LBP 460.3K
179.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$9.72LBP 869.6K
-55.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$11.37LBP 1.0M
7.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$1.74LBP 156.0K
111.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.46LBP 130.7K
6.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$1.15LBP 103.1K
142.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$1.06LBP 94.6K
119.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$0.41LBP 36.7K
380.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$1.00LBP 89.3K
131.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.81LBP 72.7K
30.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$0.52LBP 46.9K
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$2.54LBP 227.8K
29.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$9.98LBP 893.5K
128.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$0.85LBP 76.4K
230.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$2.13LBP 190.3K
30.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$5.07LBP 454.1K
-91.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$1.27LBP 113.3K
-64.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$20.02LBP 1.8M
-68.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.95LBP 84.8K
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$35.6KLBP 3.2B
-26.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$27.6KLBP 2.5B
14.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$167LBP 15.0M
-51.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$37.25LBP 3.3M
-89.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$37.13LBP 3.3M
-34.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$7.87LBP 704.6K
-48.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$306LBP 27.4M
-0.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$4,512LBP 403.8M
46.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$72.2LBP 6.5M
-24.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$45.72LBP 4.1M
-15.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$73.7LBP 6.6M
16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$95.4LBP 8.5M
-19.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$491LBP 43.9M
100.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$305LBP 27.3M
115.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$1,006LBP 90.0M
234.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$501LBP 44.9M
312.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
4.25
212.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Last update for Zouk Mikael: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $491 in Zouk Mikael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $59.0 in Zouk Mikael. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $207, with Zouk Mikael cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Zouk Mikael wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zouk Mikael the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $1,663 in Zouk Mikael to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $491 in Zouk Mikael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,108 in Zouk Mikael – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
At $1,108 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zouk Mikael but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zouk Mikael the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zouk Mikael delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,108 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zouk Mikael hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zouk Mikael gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared